What is Le Touquet treaty? All you need to know about the agreement that stops thousands of migrants travelling to Britain from Calais ‘jungle’
A staggering 10,000 migrants who want to seek asylum in Britain are trapped in Calais' 'jungle', a makeshift camp near the port.
One of the reasons is Le Touquet treaty, signed in 2003, to prevent people getting into the UK at the Calais border.
The desperation among the growing number of residents stuck in 'jungle' limbo has led to calls for the treaty to be scrapped.
WHAT IS THE CRISIS ALL ABOUT?
In 2003 a treaty was signed in Le Touquet, Northern France, by then PM Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac.
It let the countries set up immigration controls in each other’s Channel ports, moving the French border to Kent and Britain’s border to Calais.
French politicians now want to rip up the treaty.
WHY DID WE AGREE TO THE DEAL?
The treaty aimed to solve the crisis of the Sangatte refugee centre, near the Channel Tunnel entrance in France.
Run by the Red Cross, Sangatte opened in 1999 but by early 2001, EuroTunnel said it had stopped 18,500 migrants trying to sneak into the UK.
French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy and Home Secretary David Blunkett hatched a deal as part of Le Touquet to close Sangatte, while the UK agreed to take on half of Sangatte’s last 2,000 migrants.
Read more: What is the Calais 'jungle' and how many refugees live there?
WHY IS THERE A PROBLEM NOW?
Both countries thought migrants rushing to the UK was a short-term issue.
But now the French argue they have to do all the work to stop illegal migration to Britain.
Even if migrants do make it to our shores they are turned back to France.
IS THIS BECAUSE OF BREXIT?
No. Le Touquet is not an EU treaty. Some lawyers say it breaches European law because it creates a “special case” immigration deal.
If France walks away from Le Touquet it could even allow the UK to expel more migrants.
DO BRITISH TAXPAYERS HELP FUND SECURITY IN CALAIS AND DUNKIRK?
Yes. We pay around £68million a year to cover policing and other costs.
CAN FRANCE SIMPLY RIP UP LE TOUQUET?
Yes. But it will remain in force for two years even after they do.
WHAT WILL THAT MEAN IF FRANCE DOES SCRAP THE TREATY?
Britain will have to cope with thousands of migrants being allowed to reach our shores instead of being stopped in France.
Experts fear it will mean the UK is even more of a target for migrants because one huge barrier will go.
And Britain will also be forced to deport migrants directly to the first EU country they set foot in, a red-tape nightmare costing millions to enforce.
WHAT COULD BRITAIN DO IN RESPONSE?
France was desperate for UK help after the Paris attacks last November, relying heavily on MI5, MI6, Home Office and police support.
That level of co-operation could be threatened if Le Touquet was scrapped.